The death has taken place of ÉAMON de BUITLÉAR, he was Irelands best known independent wildlife filmmaker. He was also known for promoting the Irish language and traditional music. He dedicated his life to influencing public opinion and government policy on environmental issues, through his films books and engagement with the public.
He has been making independent wildlife films since the early nineteen sixties. He began by writing and presenting radio programmes on traditional Irish music prior to the arrival of television in Ireland.
His Amuigh Faoin Spéir series (Out Under the Sky) which he co-produced and originated with Dutch artist Gerrit Van Gelderen, was Irelands very first wildlife series. It was the very first time that Irish wildlife was beamed into Irish households and the effect was quite dramatic. The programmes had a major influence on the Irish public’s attitude to the environment. Later programmes included; The Natural World and The Living Isles ( BBC) and TV series such as:
- Exploring the Landscape, Irelands Wild Countryside, A Life in the Wild ( RTE).
- Wild Islands (RTE, STV and S4C)
- Nature Watch (ITV),
- Éiníní and Ainimhithe na hÉireann (TG4).
He was also involved in a Government supported initiative replicating and reinstating Irelands natural wetland ecosystems that had largely been lost through land drainage.
These wetland systems are vitally important towards improving overall water management and associated biodiversity in Ireland. There is little doubt that Éamonʼs de Buitléarʼs success in influencing the Irish Government to adopt a conservation policy in respect of wetlands, is the result of his being so prominent in natural history film-making.
Source: The Organic College – Éamon De Buitléar January 22 1930 – January 27, 2013
